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Keen cricketer hit for six after honour from The Queen

A KEEN cricketer has been hit for six after being recognised for his long-standing charity work in the New Year’s Honours List.

John Poore, 63, from Hazlemere has been named a Medallist of the Order of the British Empire for charitable services.

The father of four, who is the managing director of the family’s builders’ merchants Poores in Acton, has raised tens of thousands of pounds over 25 years for trade charity The Rainy Day Trust.

He said: “I’m over the moon - It’s very humbling and a great honour.

“It’s always been about putting something back in to the trade and helping others that have fallen on hard times, perhaps they picked up a serious injury working in the trade or supporting widows etc.

“Someone said to me the other day that I must have raised £1m but I wouldn’t have a clue, but it’s only because of the amazing and generous people and businesses that put their money where their mouth is.”

Mr Poore’s charity work started in his early twenties when he became a member of the Ealing Round Table, of which he became its youngest ever chairman at the age of 25 and was a member until he was 40.

He has been president of Ealing Cricket Club for 17 years, raising money for the club and enabling some players to join their team-mates on tour.

The cricket lover - whose daughter Olivia plays rugby for England - started organising six-a-side matches in the 1980s, which involved a host of big-name internationals including Mike Gatting and Phil Tufnell.

He also helped set up the FLP Scholarship Fund which provided cricket in various forms to inner city kids that could not afford the sport.

Mr Poore is a Freeman & Liverymen in the Builders Merchants Livery Company which he is scheduled to become Master in October.

He added: “The family are delighted and very proud. Someone said my wife Linda has an excuse to buy a new dress for the palace – but Medallists don’t actually go.”

Mrs Poore said: “John has always thought of others first – is always the first to put his hand in his pocket when the charity tin comes round and is always willing to get involved in raising funds for whoever the charity.

“He has always said –think of others first and the world will be a better place.”